efzauner

And where do the billions that Walmart's makes go? To the shareholders, which are you and me. You mostlikely have Walmart stock in your pension plan etc. There is a misconception that the billions that corporations make go into someone's deep pockets. No, the profits go to the people who own the shares. If you think that Walmart's is making way to much money, buy some shares. On your last topic, do you mean then that the cheap massed produced goods made in America should also be taxed when they are imported to other countries? Sort of like the tax on Canadian softwood lumber imported into the US? No, history has showed that duties and other barriers to trade don't work, that is why the world has been trying remove these barriers thru WTO negotiations, NAFTA etc. This is my last post on this subject. I'd rather be talking about how speakers sound, not where they are made, but I was not the one that opened the Pandora's box on where Klipsch speakers where made.

Oh, boy, lots of issues discussed here: 1: world economy and free trade is here to stay. You can no longer expect to drop out of high school and get a $40/hr job assembling cars at GM for life. Stocking shelves at Walmart overnight IS a minimum wage job, nothing more, and that is what you are going to get for dropping out of HS. Like previous poster said, the world will find the cheapest labor, and China is it for now. In a few decades China will have pulled itself completely out of third world status and hopefully the cheap labor will move to Africa. That continent needs all the help they can get. What is the alternative? Would you rather have a backward, poor, arch communist China and $40/hr GM jobs or a modern, prosperous China integrated into the world economy and $20/hr GM jobs? I chose the latter. We should be thankfull that China has managed to get itself into a modern economy. 2: Walmarts is efficient, capitalism at its best. What is better, paying $3 for a widget at your corner general store, badly managed, where it takes 3 employees to stock the shelves, or paying $2.50 for the same widget at Walmarts because they are efficient and it takes only 2 workers to do the same job, leaving 1 worker to contribute to the economy in another area? I pick Walmarts. 3: Don't blame Walmarts or China for our crappy schools that don't teach the 3Rs properly and demotivate kids so they drop out and then find that the only jobs for them are flipping hamburgers and stocking shelves. (and if that is a run on sentence or if I have some dangling participles, I blame it on SusieQ for ever distracting me in English class, not on China or Walmart!) 4: YOU are the one that picks the cheap broom that breaks after a few months. North American consumers have been trained to buy the CHEAPEST! No one wants to pay a reasonable price for a quality product. Everyone wants to get a deal! That is why they are always after the best deals in electronics, but then end up paying a fortune for snakeoil cables! Buy quality, buy it once. You make the choice, not Walmarts. If you don't buy it, Walmart can't sell it! 5: Enough for today...

Tell you a story Formica. I know its history, but the first thing I did when I purchased the store was to upgrade the plain white ceilling painted sheetrock screen with a $3000 wholesale price motorized, tab tensioned screen from Draper. (http://www.draperinc.com/Screen_Pages/SilhouetteV_projection_screen.htm in M1300 surface) We all gathered in the HT room, turned out the lights and pressed the switch, holding our breath in order to release a big WOW when the new screen came down to cover the elcheapo painted sheetrock... Well what a letdown. That was the worst investement I ever made. If you raised the screen half way, so that the bottom half of the movie was on white paint, and the top half was on $3000 screen. You COULD NOT TELL A DIFFERENCE! We used a InFocus 7200 projector ($7K If I remember right)... I complained to the Draper rep, and he totally agreed with me. With today's high contrast, high output projectors, the screen becomes less and less important. IMHO. The setup is still there, if you want to see it. My idea is to use a top quality high thread count white cotton/polyester bed sheet and stretch it on a frame...and put the center channel behind it. Can't be less sound transparent that speaker grill cloth.

Unless it is for patriotic reasons, why is this an issue? China has lots of top scientists and engineers, modern manufacturing plants, educated workforce. Most mass produced electronics is made in China. A lot of industrial and commercial electronics that need high quality and reliability are made in China. China can put a man in space, built airplanes and rockets, they have some of the biggest chip fabs etc etc. Why do you not think they can make top quality speaker parts? Speakers are quite low tech in comparison. Years ago we used to giggle at stuff like Sony and Hondas that where made in Japan! Now look at who is laughing! China burst on the scene with almost none of the growing pains that Japan had. Sure they are still learning, but fast! In terms of manufacturing process and quality controll they are where the US was about 20 years ago. (US manufacturers first crack at quality was to actually get the right resistor in the right holes- we are beyond that now, but the Chinese are still at that stage, at least when making the real cheap stuff) And 20 years ago, the US shure made some good audio equipment! We still rave about the good old stuff! If it where not for inexpensive products from China, our inflation would be thru the roof and our standard of living way down. IMHO

I still love my pair of Koss Pro 4AAA. Still perfect after 25 or so years except that the vinyl earpad is rather stiff now with no replacement available. Ears get sore after several HOURS of listening.

I see lots of dvd players that say HD on them. What a scam. The sad part is that many people that have purchased widescreen tvs over the past years with component inputs will not be able to use the new HD-DVD or Blue rays because they will only have HDMI outputs for HD. Furthermore, those buying the latest 1080P displays will mostlikely also not be able to plug em into the upcomming HD players because most of the 1080P displays out there do not work with HDMI! This is a sad story for the early adopters. I dont even have a HD set yet, and I have been holding off buying DVDs of my favorite movies. Will probably spring for a HD DVD player in 2007 when they come down in price. I promised my 8 year old that the first movie we see in HD in the yet to be built HT room will be Harry Potter Goblet of fire. By the time she is 13, the HT room should be built! Ha !

As an alternative, take a look at ebay for some used speakers. There are lots out there that can be had for $300-$400 and the rest you can put into a decent new or used receiver. Check out the recent speaker test on Audioholics.com to find what you could get new for under $300. Just a thought. Also check out craiglist.com. I saw a set of Forte for $450. That was an utter steal. Feel free to post back here for comments on what you find before buying... Stay away from Theatre Research, or anything of the back of a truck!

OK, I see the cap, what is the semiconductor? a diode? Huh?

no real reason to use a battery. They are expensive, contain sulfuric acid, heavy etc. Normal car batteries are only designed to de charge a little bit when starting the engine, and run fully charged most of the time. Constantly draining and recharging a regular car batttery is not good. As a previous post said, to do this you need a deep discharge battery for marine or other use. but those are expensive. If you really want to use your car amp indoors, by a 12 volt supply, but to be honest a good one will be as expensive as buying a cheap amp. Look on ebay for some cheap stereo amps!

May have been posted before. http://boston.craigslist.org/ele/116017100.html

Immediate and total denial by Amy is sure proof that Formica got it right! What great sleuthing! However, the entire first year's production run was stolen from the Klipsch warehouse and sold off the back of a truck in mall parking lots across the country. We will have to wait til 2007 to see them on your dealer's shelves!

Getting high quality audio into a vehicle is not simply a matter of putting high quality components. Yes, Focal is a good brand, and there are others, including high end products from Polk, MB Quart, Alpine, and, yes, the Pioneer TSD Kevlar line. You also will need a good amp to drive these and a good head unit with pre amp outs. Again, I find Alpine, and pioneer are good here. However the main thing is that in order to get real good audio you will have to do a few things. First strip the inside and do a very good job of sound insulation and deadening. No sense in putting thousands of dollars into equipment with the high noise levels in a truck or most cars. Second, speakers firing accross the front is not the best thing. Most SQ (sound Quality) setups have custome speaker mounts that aim the speakers better at you. Before laying down the big buck, inform yourself about the subject, visit some of the Sema shows or other shows aimed at the performance and car audio market. Oh yes, and have fun!

This stuff comes in 2 coats: A base reflective coat plus a final coat. It is rather pricey also. I do remember a thread somewhere that talked about a Behr color code that matched it. I think that today's projectors are so bright that you dont really need any screen gain, just the right color shade. Maybe grey if you you do not have total control of ambient light.

DTS makes some amazing demo dvds just for your needs. They come out with a new one every year or so. I am surprised that you store does not have them already.

You bloody idiot. Now he is going to show all his friends and they are going to run around telling everyone that BLOSE makes the best speakers in the world. Next thing you know, you will have a BLOSE store down the street from you. All your neighboors are going to have BLOSE systems and your will be the odd man out. Oh man, we work hard on the forum to convert one Blose lover at a time to Klipsch and you go and blow all efforts in one shot. You are officially BANNED from this forum! Shame on you!

I am kinda feel guilty myself. The ForteIIs in Canada sold for about $600 Canadian. Sure they are not new, but realy speakers dont really wear out. I still thought that was expensive. But where else can you get a set of superb speakers for $600 bucks? Go to any audio store and see what you can get for $600? Crap really. Silly me for thinking that C$600 was too much for a set of Fortes. Was not really in the market, cause I got good stuff already. But I felt guilty of just thinking it! What is the issue? People not willing to pay for shipping? Not willing to buy without seeing?

Built in 91, we purchased in 96. with no kids...Interior was finished in contractor white. Figured we would paint quickly and customize to our liking. Well, wife got pregnant a month after we moved in... and 9 years, 3 kids later...most of the house is still contractor white!. We did the bedroom first, crown moulding and all, then the 2 kids bedrooms, then the basement, and this summer my home office and eldest daughter's bedroom. Next is the basement laudry room with bathroom. Wife wants kitchen redone next, but I may squeeze in the HT room first, at least get it operational if not looking like a formal theatre. Want to do something real nice looking, with stage, rear seats raised on platform etc. So far my ideas are to put a base in front with subs in them. This will raise the LaScalas to a better level. It could also be a stage for the some instruments like electric piano and drums. The surrounds, rear, and center will be stock or modified Heresy if only to change formfactor. Still just a vision right now. But what I find works is to think about these things way in advance. That way you come up with many ideas and solutions to problems, get to churn them in your mind, usually discard the first ones, and finally settling on the best all round solution. Too often the first idea is not the best, but when you are rushed, the first idea is the one that gets built. One of my longer term ideas is to make a wallhorn. That is use the front wall to build a long semi folded horn. But I may have to wait for retirement to do that one!

If its too good to be true... The main page says that cost of parts is about $400. . Not counting shipping, box, labor etc. You can get a new projector for $1000, a used one for less. What is the performance of the diy in terms of: Contrast, color accuracy, speed, de-interlacing, scaling, keystone, screen door effect, etc etc. All LCD projectors use 3 panels to achieve proper contrast, saturation etc. What this seems to be is simply an LCD panel normally used for laptops with a projector shining thru! I may be wrong... but.

At this level, I don't think that our interest/loyalty to Klipsch (or any other product) is simply an issue of performance. I compare our interest in Klipsch more to a car or art collector. Car buffs will pick cars, new or old for a variety of qualities, and not simply on top performance. For those of us that have Heritage, it is like antique car collectors: Sure, the speakers sound real good, and have qualities all their own, and we are emotionally attached to them for various reasons. I for one, got my LaScalas because those where the speakers used at our high school dances during the late 70s. The sound was not only incredible, but it brings back a many memories of last dances with the girls!

I can pick em up and hold em for forum members. I will be in Ottawa friday 16th dec. I live in montreal

This seems to be a lot of work. You may want to consider: 1; just buying a sub with its own amp and internal xover 2: Getting some Fortes or ForteIIs instead.

Yes, lots of prework: Move existing hot water heater and add a second one. But I built a basin first in case of leaks! Add sister 2x4 to floor joists. Remove some 2 x10 beams to make hall look nice, Put them on other side... Remove crappy fiberglass insulation from header and have urethane foam blown in by pros. Move copper pipes to go around room, and not in middle of ceiling. Replace rotten 2x4 layed in cement holding up floor and stairs. Straigten remaining 2x4s. Build new stairs (I am pround of that one!) re-route heating ducts to make more room in ceiling. Add return ducts to all rooms. Add central vacuum pipe. Fish out crappy insulation from behind 4x8 plywood panels where electrical box is and blow in foam. Build nice covers around wiring into electrical box. Add nice inserts aroung windows in foundation insulate heating ducts (gym has soundproofing...I like to pump iron at 5 am while watching dance music videos with scantily clad women...) Run Cable and phone lines, and all electrical wire. I also had a real weird problem: Water dripped out of the 400 amp electrical mains whenever it rained alot for several days. Tried to find an entry point. No luck. Turned out that the heating system was sucking moist air into the cold box (colder in basement) thru the small pile used for the electrical meter and it condensed inside! It took a few days, so only happened when there were several days of rain and high humidity! Basically the jerk who built the house didn't give a damn about anything, just put anything anywhere whithout any consideration of future basement finishing! BTH my basement is basically dry, so I did not build a subfloor. I put very good quality rubber underpadding and a top commercial carpet http://www.krauscarpet.com/kraus/servlet/Navigator?Order=vafEnter&style=1685 It is just beautifull!

Hey Formica! Great that you are finally getting round to doing a real HT room. Lots of work eh! In July I just finished a basement finishing project that started in Dec 2002 (Moved the hot water heater to make room for a toy storage closed under the stairs). The basement now has a nice play room for the kids, and a great gym for mom an dad (thats me and my wife). There are 2 nice french doors that open up to what will be a 12 x18 HT room. Last weekend I finished splitting the big room above the garage into my office and my 8 year old daughter's room. Now at least all the kids have their own room. So what's next: Move the laundry room into the basement, and then maybe I can start the HT room! My idea was not to do a full drywall with joints etc (I hate mudding drywall!), but prepare some nice sound deadening panels and put them up, plus have removable baseboards with room for cable underneath. I will do a play by play like you have! Maybe we can get together at the Audio show this winter in MTL? Am currently in hotel room in Syracuse...visiting customers.

rule 1: do not buy combo stuff. TVs last long. DVDs and VCRs break after a few years. rule 2: when electronics under $150 breaks after warranty, throw in garbage: in other words set your expectations when buying low cost gear. It's gonna cost at least $75 to fix anything. For all the no-name stuff purchased thru discount retailers like Walmarts, there is probably no service available anyway after warranty.

I could get a pair of used Michael Jordan Nikes for that price! They would smell much nicer too! If you live in cookie cutter Japan, you gotta have something different!